Waistband construction for undergarments

ABSTRACT

An undergarment with an improved elastic waistband comprises a fabric garment body defining a pair of shorts with a circular waist portion, and a waistband which includes an annular band of longitudinally elastic tape. The waistband has a lower edge contiguous to the circular waist portion and a free upper edge, and a plurality of laterally oriented upward V-shaped notches therein providing openings in the upper edge. The undergarment can further include a fabric covering coextensive with elastic tape which is elastically stitched to the elastic tape. The waistband can comprise a plurality of stress relief points including at least one member selected from the group consisting of a plurality of laterally oriented upward V-shaped notches therein providing openings in said waistband upper edge, a plurality of perforations formed integral within said waistband for stress relief and including a notches, cutouts, perforations or combinations thereof and a plurality of laterally oriented downward V-shaped notches which provide openings in the lower edge. In a preferred embodiment, the upward V-shaped notches and the downward V-shaped notches are in an alternating arrangement with one another so that the downward V-shaped notches define interstitial lower edge portions which are contiguous to the circular waist.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is related to garment construction, and in particular to an improved waistband construction for boxer shorts and other similar undergarments.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Undergarments for the lower torso such as boxer shorts, briefs, and the like usually have elastic waistbands which conform to the waist of the wearer. The elastic waistband must be sufficiently taut to maintain the garment in place on the waist of the wearer. However, since body sizes and proportions can differ greatly between individuals, it often happens that the elastic is too tight and causes discomfort to the wearer. Discomfort can also result due to the fact that the approximately cylindrical shape of the waistband may not smoothly conform to the natural topography of the body's surface.

An example of a prior art attempt to create a waistband with more “give” can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 3,800,332, which discloses an expandable waistband for a garment. The garment has a non-elastic waistband, with vertical slits cut therein which are webbed with a resilient material to accommodate stresses caused by movement of the wearer or by changes in the wearer's girth. U.S. Pat. No. 1,048,633 discloses a pair of trousers having openings in the tops of the vertical side seams with the edges connected by loop having an elastic band extending therethrough.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,480,339 discloses a waistband for trousers which comprises an elastic band and a fabric web which is attached to the garment and to the elastic band. The fabric web partially covers and restrains the elongation of the elastic band. The fabric web does not cover the area of the elastic band near the side seams of the garment, allowing the elastic band to stretch more easily in this area to provide added comfort to the wearer.

Prior art patents specifically directed to undergarment waistbands include U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,207,155 and 1,998,140. U.S. Pat. No. 3,207,155 is directed to a man's undergarment which including side openings to facilitate the donning and subsequent removal of the garment. The side openings are formed by severing the front and back parts along a vertical line for a distance extending below the upper edges. A binding or tape is sewn around the marginal edges, forming a slot which opens at the waistband. The waistband is also severed at the side opening and is provided with a suitable fastening means for detachably securing the ends together. U.S. Pat. No. 1,998,140 discloses a garment having front and back non-elastic portions which are connected by side elastic waistband portions.

It is nowhere shown or suggested in the prior art to provide a boxer short-type undergarment with an improved elastic waistband for added comfort. Thus, what is proposed herein is a novel elastic waistband construction which is designed to closely conform to the body of the wearer while including integral means for stress relief, for example notches, cutouts, perforations or the like, thereby allowing freedom of movement to provide a greatly improved, comfortable fit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an objective of the invention to provide an elastic waistband construction for articles of clothing which utilizes an elastic band having a plurality of integral means for stress relief, for example laterally oriented V-shaped notches, cutouts, perforations or combinations thereof for added resiliency and comfortable fit.

It is another objective to provide a waistband construction for undergarments which is more comfortable for the wearer than conventional elastic waistbands.

It is still another objective to provide a waistband construction for undergarments which when worn lends a smoother appearance to outerwear by diminishing the appearance of the waistline.

It is a further objective of the invention to provide a waistband construction for undergarments which is suitable for use with a variety of types of undergarments for the lower torso.

In accordance with the above objectives, articles of clothing, illustrated by, albeit not limited to undergarments and stockings, provided with an improved elastic band are provided which comprise a fabric garment body defining (in the case of undergarments) a pair of leg receiving portions with a circular waist portion, and a waistband which includes an annular band of longitudinally elastic tape. The waistband has a lower edge contiguous to the circular waist portion and a free upper edge. A plurality of stress relieving apertures or notches are provided for achieving a comfortable fit. For example, stress relief may be provided in the form of laterally oriented upward V-shaped notches positioned along the upper edge, and thereby providing openings in said upper edge. The undergarment can further include a fabric covering coextensive with elastic tape which is elastically stitched to the elastic tape.

The waistband can further comprise a plurality of laterally oriented downward V-shaped notches which provide openings in the lower edge. In a preferred embodiment, the upward V-shaped notches and the downward V-shaped notches are in an alternating arrangement with one another so that the downward V-shaped notches define interstitial lower edge portions which are contiguous to the circular waist.

In another aspect of the invention, a waistband construction for pull-on type garments for the lower torso is provided which comprises at least one segment of longitudinally elastic tape constructed to provide an annular band attachable to a waist portion of a garment and including a plurality of laterally oriented V-shaped notches therein providing openings in the upper edge of elastic tape. The lower edge of the elastic tape can include a plurality of laterally oriented downward V-shaped notches providing openings in the lower edge. The upward V-shaped notches and the downward V-shaped notches can be in an alternating arrangement with one another with the downward V-shaped notches define interstitial lower edge portions for attachment to the circular waist portion of a garment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1A is a perspective illustration of a garment having a waistband constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 1B illustrates the garment of FIG. 1A with reinforcement fabric portions attached to the V-shaped notches therein;

FIG. 2 is a portion of the elastic tape utilized in the garment shown in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 3 is a perspective illustration of a garment having a waistband constructed in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is a portion of the elastic tape utilized in the garment shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 a perspective illustration of a garment having a waistband constructed in accordance with an another alternative embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a perspective illustration of a garment having a waistband constructed in accordance with yet another alternative embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 7 illustrates a sock having an upper edge constructed in accordance with still another alternative embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Although the invention will be described in terms of a specific embodiment, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in this art that various modifications, rearrangements, and substitutions can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the claims appended hereto.

FIG. 1A pictorially illustrates a garment 10 having a waistband 12 constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention. The garment 10 as illustrated herein is a boxer short type undergarment, however the invention is not limited in this regard. The garment 10, although illustrated as a pair of shorts, could be any garment which is constructed with an elastic band to aid in positioning about the wearer, e.g. a waistband, ankle band on a stocking, or the like.

The garment 10 includes a fabric garment body 111 defining a pair of shorts with a circular waist portion 17. The waistband 12 has a lower edge 13 which is contiguous to the circular waist portion 17 and a free upper edge 15. The waistband 12 can be attached to the garment body 11 by stitching, or can include fabric portions 18 integral to the garment body 11. The waistband 12 includes longitudinally elastic tape 14 constructed to provide an annular band 16, of which a portion is visible in FIG. 1A. The annular band 16 can be constructed using any number of segments of longitudinally elastic tape, shown separate from the garment in FIG. 2. In the conventional method of garment construction as would be used in the illustrated example, segments of elastic tape 14 are first attached to unassembled front and rear portions of the garment body 11 then stitched at the side seams, thus forming annular band 16. The fabric portions 18 can be attached to the elastic tape 14 using rows of elastic stitching 32. The elastic tape 14 can be any conventional knitted or woven elastic tape as is typically used in garment construction.

Referring again to FIG. 1A, the invention contemplates the inclusion of a plurality of stress relief points formed integral with the elastic band. In the illustrated embodiment it can be seen that the waistband 12 includes a plurality of laterally oriented upward V-shaped notches 22 which provide openings in the upper edge 15 of the waistband 12. The notches 22 can include stitched finished edges 26. Alternatively, a plurality of openings 25 could be provided within the confines of the waistband, e.g., squares, diamonds, ovals, circles, or the like, either singly or in combination.

In FIG. 1B, an alternative embodiment is illustrated in which the waistband 12 can also include V-shaped reenforcement fabric portions 19 which are stitched to the waistband 12 to align with the notches 22. The reinforcement fabric portions 19 serve to prevent portions of the waistband from folding downward or being otherwise displaced when the garment 10 is worn. In the illustrated example, the fabric portions 19 are shown on the exterior of the garment 11, however they can also be placed on the interior of the waistband 12.

As shown in FIG. 2, the elastic band 14 can be constructed by cutting and removing V-shaped portions of conventional elastic tape to form notches 22 a. The resulting raw edges can be finished using finishing stitching 25. Alternatively, the finishing stitching 26 (FIG. 1A) can penetrate the fabric portions 18 of the waistband 12 and th elastic band 14 to simultaneously secure the elements together and also finish the raw edges of the notches 22 a. The elastic band 14 can also be knitted or woven at the time of manufacture to include notches 22 a or perforations 25 a.

FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the invention. The garment 30 in FIG. 3 is constructed in a manner similar to that of the garment 10 shown in FIG. 1A, and includes a waistband 32 having a series of upward V-notches 42 which define openings in an upper edge 35. In this embodiment, he waistband 32 further includes a plurality of laterally oriented downward V-shaped notches 39 which provide openings in a lower edge 33 of the waistband 32. The upward V-shaped notches 32 and said downward V-shaped notches 39 are preferably in an alternating arrangement with one another. The downward V-shaped notches 39 define interstitial lower edge portions 36 which are contiguous to the circular waist portion 37. FIG. 4 illustrates a portion of the elastic band 34 from the garment 30 shown in FIG. 3 showing the upward V-shaped notches 32 a and downward V-shaped notches 39 a. As discussed above with respect to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A, the elastic band 34 can be constructed by modifying conventional elastic tape, or alternatively, can be manufactured with the desired configuration.

FIG. 5 illustrates another alternative embodiment of the invention represented as garment 50 having a waistband 52. The garment 50 is shown as a pair shorts, however in the practice of the invention the waistband 52 can be used with any type of garment for the lower torso. The garment 50 includes a garment body 51 which has a circular waist portion 57. The waistband 52 includes at least one segment of longitudinally elastic tape 54 constructed to provide an annular band 65. The elastic tape 54 can be formed using the methods described above in relation to the previous embodiments. The waistband 52 has a lower edge 53 which is attached to the circular waist portion 57, preferably by stitching, and a free upper edge 55. To construct the garment 50, segments of elastic tape 54 can first stitched to unassembled front and rear portions of the garment body 51 then stitched at the side seams to provide the annular band 66.

The waistband 52 includes a plurality of laterally oriented upward V-shaped notches 62 which provide openings in the upper edge 55 of the waistband 52. The waistband 52 can also include V-shaped reenforcement fabric portions similar to those shown in FIG. 1A which are stitched to the waistband 52 to align with the notches 22. As shown in FIG. 6, the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 can alternatively be in the form of the garment 60 shown in FIG. 6, in which the waistband 62 includes a plurality of upward V-shaped notches 72 and plurality of downward V-shaped notches 79 in an alternating arrangement. The downward V-shaped notches 79 define interstitial lower edge portions 82 which are stitched to the circular waist portion 67.

The above-described embodiments are directed to a waistband construction, however the invention is not limited in this regard. The principles of the invention can be applied to any elasticized garment of a generally tubular configuration. FIG. 7 illustrates still another alternative embodiment of the invention in which a sock 100 includes a plurality of laterally oriented upward V-shaped notches 220 which provide openings in the upper edge 150 of the sock 100. Not illustrated, but nevertheless a part of the instant invention, is the inclusion of alternative or additional stress relief points including at least one member selected from the group consisting of a plurality of laterally oriented upward V-shaped notches therein providing openings in said elastic band upper edge, and a plurality of perforations (equivalent to elements 25 illustrated in FIG. 1A) formed integral within said band for stress relief and including notches, cutouts, perforations or combinations thereof. The sock 100 is preferably knitted as a unitary garment with the notches 220 created at the time of manufacture.

All patents and publications mentioned in this specification are indicative of the levels of those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. All patents and publications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

It is to be understood that while a certain form of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification. One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The articles of manufacture, methods, procedures and techniques described herein are presently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended to be exemplary and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by the scope of the appended claims. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the following claims. 

1. An undergarment providing enhanced comfort comprising: a fabric garment body defining a pair of leg receiving portions with a circular waist, a waistband comprising at least one segment of longitudinally elastic tape constructed to provide an annular band and having a lower edge contiguous to said circular waist and a free upper edge, said waistband further including a plurality of laterally oriented stress relief points; whereby said waistband comfortably conforms to a user's torso.
 2. The undergarment of claim 1, wherein said waistband further comprises a fabric covering coextensive with said at least one segment of longitudinally elastic tape wherein said fabric covering is elastically stitched to said elastic tape.
 3. The undergarment of claim 1, wherein said stress relief points include a plurality of laterally oriented V-shaped notches, and said waistband includes reinforcement stitching proximate to and aligning with said edges.
 4. The undergarment of claim 3, wherein said plurality of V-shaped notches have opposing edges, and said waistband includes a plurality of V-shaped reinforcement fabric portions which are respectively aligned with said V-shaped notches and attached to said waistband by stitching.
 5. The undergarment of claim 3, wherein said waistband further comprises a plurality of laterally oriented downward V-shaped notches providing openings in said lower edge, wherein said upward V-shaped notches and said downward V-shaped notches are in an alternating arrangement with one another with said downward V-shaped notches defining interstitial lower edge portions which are contiguous to said circular waist.
 6. The undergarment of claim 5, wherein each of said plurality of V-shaped notches have opposing edges, and said waistband includes reinforcement stitching proximate to and aligning with said edges.
 7. The undergarment of claim 5, wherein said plurality of V-shaped notches have opposing edges, and said waistband includes a plurality of V-shaped reinforcement fabric portions which are respectively aligned with said V-shaped notches and attached to said waistband by stitching.
 8. A waistband construction for pull-on type garments for the lower torso comprising at least one segment of longitudinally elastic tape constructed to provide an annular band attachable to a waist portion of a garment, said at least one segment providing a plurality of laterally oriented stress relief points whereby said waistband comfortably conforms to a user's torso.
 9. The waistband of claim 8, wherein said stress relief points include a free upper edge having a plurality of laterally oriented V-shaped notches therein providing openings in said upper edge, said plurality of V-shaped notches having opposing edges, and said waistband including reinforcement stitching proximate to and aligning with said edges.
 10. The waistband of claim 9, wherein said plurality of V-shaped notches have opposing edges, and said waistband includes a plurality of V-shaped reinforcement fabric portions which are respectively aligned with said V-shaped notches and attached to said waistband by stitching.
 11. The waistband construction of claim 9, wherein said lower edge includes a plurality of laterally oriented downward V-shaped notches providing openings in said lower edge, wherein said upward V-shaped notches and said downward V-shaped notches are in an alternating arrangement with one another with said downward V-shaped notches define interstitial lower edge portions for attachment to the garment.
 12. The waistband of claim 11, wherein each of said plurality of V-shaped notches have opposing edges, and said waistband includes reinforcement stitching proximate to and aligning with said edges.
 13. The waistband of claim 11, wherein said plurality of V-shaped notches have opposing edges, and said waistband includes a plurality of V-shaped reinforcement fabric portions which are respectively aligned with said V-shaped notches and attached to said waistband by stitching.
 14. A sock adapted to be worn on a foot comprising a tubular body having an upper edge forming an opening for insertion of said foot, wherein said upper edge includes an elastic band constructed and arranged to conform to a wearer's ankle, said band including a plurality of laterally oriented stress relief points whereby said upper elastic band comfortably conforms to a user's ankle, said stress relief points including at least one member selected from the group consisting of a plurality of laterally oriented upward V-shaped notches therein providing openings in said elastic band upper edge, a plurality of perforations formed integral within said band for stress relief and including notches, cutouts, perforations or combinations thereof.
 15. The undergarment of claim 1 wherein said stress relief points include at least one member selected from the group consisting of a plurality of laterally oriented upward V-shaped notches therein providing openings in said waistband upper edge, a plurality of laterally oriented downward V-shaped notches which provide openings in the lower edge, a plurality of perforations formed integral within said waistband for stress relief and including a notches, cutouts, perforations, or combinations thereof.
 16. The garment of claim 8 wherein said stress relief points include at least one member selected from the group consisting of a plurality of laterally oriented upward V-shaped notches therein providing openings in said waistband upper edge, a plurality of laterally oriented downward V-shaped notches which provide openings in the lower edge, a plurality of perforations formed integral within said waistband for stress relief and including a notches, cutouts, perforations, or combinations thereof. 